Charles ponders whether email is destroying friendships... Sounds to me like politics are destroying friendships. Is there anything radically different in the scenario Charles poses than a person who raises politics at a party, leading to disagreement, perhaps vehement, and no more party invitations for some of the arguers? Face-to-face communication is clearly the biggest threat to relational survival there is -- almost every relationship that ever gets started ultimately falls apart via f2f communication. But we don't even think to blame face-to-face interaction for their downfall. As an interpersonal communication teacher, I have yet to be convinced there is anything profoundly different about email's role in relationships. Communication builds friendships. Communication destroys friendships. Email is a communication medium. Why wouldn't email destroy friendships as well as help build them? Nancy -- Nancy Baym http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym Communication Studies, University of Kansas 102 Bailey Hall, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS 66045, USA Association of Internet Researchers: http://aoir.org